Born in Madrid in 1942. He studied violin and composition in parallel with his secondary education and degree in Law. He furthered his musical studies in France and Germany with masters such as Maderna, Boulez, Stockhausen, Ligeti and Adorno. He also took some courses in Psychology,
Sociology and Performing Arts. In 1967 he was an assistant to Stockhausen. Recipient of the National Music Prize in 1969, Gaudeamus Foundation (Netherlands) 1969 and 1971, VI Paris Biennial, Casals Centenary, Golden Harp, UNESCO Composers' Tribune
He was Professor of New Techniques at the Madrid Superior Conservatory and Professor of Music History at the National University of Distance Education. He has published several books and taught courses at institutions and universities in
Europe and America. He has practiced music criticism in various media. He worked 11 years in the musical services of Radio Nacional de España, receiving the National Broadcasting Prize and the Ondas Prize. From 1981 to 1985, Director-Manager of the Autonomous Body National Orchestra and Choir of Spain and between 1991 and
1995, Technical Director of the same ensembles. From 1985 to 1995, Director of the Center for the Dissemination of Contemporary Music, creating its electroacoustic laboratory and the International Festival of Alicante, whose first 11 editions he directed. Since 1993 full member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts
of San Fernando. From 1977 to 1996, Advisor to SGAE. In 1996, Director of Festivals of the Community of Madrid. From May 1996 to July 1999, General Director of INAEM. In 1998 he was appointed Doctor Honoris Causa by the Complutense University of Madrid. As a composer he is the author of 6 operas, 1 ballet, 10 symphonies, choral music, chamber music etc. In November 2002 he received the National Music Prize for his body of compositional work
and in 2003 the Music Prize of the Community of Madrid. In 2012 he receives the Grand Cross of May 2nd of the Community of Madrid. 2014
Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts. 2016 XV Ibero-American Music Prize Tomás Luis de Victoria. Currently he writes exclusively music and about music.
This project was born with the aim of establishing a connection between contemporary composers dedicated to creating avant-garde art and the public interested in it. Contemporary art faces various challenges—undoubtedly numerous ones—with one of the most recurring being the lack of "understanding" with which the potential audience for contemporary art justifies their disinterest in artistic manifestations.Contemporary music is not exempt from all these conditions and, at the same time, it is not immune to possible solutions that help normalize current repertoire in the demands of music lovers and integrate it into the cultural programming of cities and concert halls.Undoubtedly, when a creator speaks about their work with the passion of the creative act and delves not only into their creative processes but also into their motivations and expressive needs, a greater connection with the public is achieved and the path toward acceptance of the work is cleared. It is the project of four saxophonists passionate about their instrument and contemporary music. The members of LUMINA Ensemble combine their efforts for the respectful and committed achievement of high-level musical performances. Lumina refers to the light that continuously permeates our land and shapes us as human beings. Light as a means of union between people who converge in a common project and as a metaphor for our way of understanding musical performance, with proposals through contemporary music.The ensemble's main objective is the dissemination of repertoire composed from the 21st century onwards. Essential to achieving this goal is collaboration with composers and the premiere of works written for this group, proposing the saxophone quartet as a unique instrument full of timbral and expressive resources at the service of new creation.Lumina's infinite curiosity about performative action has led them to perform in various concert halls, festivals and concert series both in Spain and in other countries in our region such as the ENSEMS festival (Valencia), the Contemporary Festival of Alicante (ADDA), Kuraia Festival (Bilbao), Contemporary Music Festival (Córdoba), Mostra Sonora (Sueca), International Organ Festival – FIOB (Benidorm), Concerts d´Advent (Alcoi) or their recent participation in the Organistic Festival of Salento (Lecce – Italy), Festival Due Mare (Gallipoli – Italy). They have a first recording titled Terra Lucis, and have participated in Mexican composer Samuel Cedillo's album for the Kairós record label.Lumina Ensemble is the dedicatee of numerous pieces by renowned authors such as Jesús Torres, Zulema de la Cruz, Eneko Vadillo, Sonia Megías, Oliva Carrión-Arteta, José del Valle, Iluminada Pérez, Ximo Cano, David Leal, Sara Blanco, José Vicente Fuentes Castilla, Diana P. Custodio, M. Eugenia Luc or Voro García.Lumina Ensemble is composed of: Pablo de la Fuente (soprano saxophone), Javier Carrillos (alto saxophone), Pablo Pardo (tenor saxophone) and José Antonio Suay (baritone saxophone).
